Peter Nygard asks to be released on bail pending appeal in Ontario

In Toronto, Peter Nygard asked the Ontario Court of Appeal on Wednesday to release him on bail while his appeal is heard before the province’s highest court. His defense cites the advanced age and health of the 83-year-old businessman and proposes a plan to get out of prison.

Peter Nygard’s lawyer, Alan Gold, suggests the court release his client and place him under house arrest at his Winnipeg home by pawning the value of his property, estimated at more than $1 million.

Me Gold also suggests that two helpers be at his side at all times to take care of him and do his shopping at the pharmacy and grocery store. He assures that Peter Nygard would be like in prison without the right to leave.

The lawyer points out that his client will be eligible for parole in just 21 months in accordance with the recent judgment of Justice Robert Goldstein of the Superior Court of Ontario.

Peter Nygard was sentenced on September 9 to 11 years in prison for the rape of four women more than 20 years ago in Toronto.

The magistrate granted him credit of more than 4 years for the time that the 83-year-old man has spent in preventive detention since his arrest and transfer to Ontario at the end of 2021, so that he does not He has just under 7 years left to serve in prison.

Crown prosecutor Emily Marrocco opposed the defense motion during a brief virtual hearing Wednesday morning, calling it premature.

She points out that the deadline to appeal the conviction has not yet expired and that the Supreme Court of Canada must also rule on Mr. Nygard’s appeal regarding the United States’ extradition request.

Peter Nygard has been trying to escape extradition since his apprehension in Manitoba in December 2020 at the request of American justice.

The octogenarian faces several charges in the United States, including sex trafficking. He must also undergo two other trials for sexual assault in Winnipeg and Montreal before being extradited to the United States.

He was denied release on bail in January 2022 after his transfer to Ontario.

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Prosecutor Marrocco suggests to the Court of Appeal to wait until the Supreme Court first rules on the extradition case, even if the defense request has no merit in her opinion.

Mr. Nygard risks no harm from waiting a few daysshe said, describing the request asinsufficient and frivolous.

She further says Peter Nygard still poses a risk of flying out of the country if he is allowed to serve his sentence at home in Winnipeg and that it is in the public interest to keep him in prison.

The public will not understand why he is released from prison after being sentenced to a long period of detentionshe specifies, mentioning that Peter Nygard no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence since he was found guilty in November 2023.

The public expects individuals convicted of a crime to serve their sentence in prisonshe said.

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The prosecutor also adds that the exit plan proposed by the defense is unusual and disturbing and that Peter Nygard does not need to live in Winnipeg.

She explains that he has access to a clinic in Richmond Hill for his ailments and that his state of health does not require any emergency anyway.

She finally asserts that a transfer to Manitoba would require a change of jurisdiction regarding his police supervision, because Mr. Nygard is currently under the supervision of the Ontario Provincial Police.

In his reply, Mr. Gold asserts that his client is entitled to be released on bail regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding his extradition and that his health has been the subject of lengthy procedures, and even instructions from Judge Goldstein. at trial.

Justice Lene Madsen of the Ontario Court of Appeal reserved the case for a few days.